MANILA -- Disqualified nominee of Ang Kasangga party-list, Teodorico Haresco, remains the rightful representative of his group despite the earlier decision of the poll body's first division to disqualify his bid.
Haresco said the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has no legal basis to disqualify him because its en banc sitting as the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC) has already issued the Certificate of Proclamation to him.
The proclamation declared Haresco as “a qualified nominee of Kasangga sa Kaunlaran, Inc. to sit as representative in the House of Representatives of the Congress of the Philippines, and to serve for a term of three (3) years ending June 30, 2013 in accordance with Section 7, Article VI of the Constitution”.
Comelec Commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal, a member of the first division, confirmed to Sun.Star that Haresco is still the representative of the party-list group in Congress.
"He's still the nominee unless palitan siya ng organization or he withdraws as a nominee," Larrazabal said.
Haresco has filed a manifestation pointing out that the disqualification case filed against him before the Comelec has already become moot and academic and is prepared to lift his case to the Supreme Court.
Bayan secretary-general Renato Reyes, one of the petitioners, meanwhile told Sun.Star that Haresco should abide by the decision of the poll body.
“Comelec has disqualified him based on pending petition even before he was proclaimed and even before he took his oath. His whole basis for running as nominee has been nullified by the Comelec," said Reyes. (Kathrina Alvarez/Sunnex)